Crimson Catch (Game Time #1)

by S. M. Donaldson

  Brushing my teeth twice and taking something for my head, I run across the hall to my room and dress in my standard jeans, t-shirt and chucks.

  As I walk through, my sister stands in the hallway smirking. “Hmm. I heard that somebody tried to hang out with the elite last night.”

  I’m not in the mood for her shit. “Hmm. Didn’t see you there.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Shut up. You’re an idiot. Collin Atwood doesn’t want you. You’re making an ass out of yourself. You’re going to be the butt of a big joke.”

  James steps behind her. “Janae, shut your mouth before I tape your ass to the chair in your room and force you to watch Antique Road Show all day while Jo and I are at the store, Mom’s working and Dad’s passed the fuck out.”

  I shove past her and walk out to James’s car. He slides in the driver’s seat. “So, about last night-.”

  Before he can say anything, I stop him. “Look, don’t worry, it won’t happen again. You guys have your turf and I have mine. I’ll stick to the band room, the hardware store and home. That’s where I belong,” I mumble, lying my head back on the seat and trying to shield my eyes from the sunlight.

  “Actually, I was going to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Atwood ripped my ass good. I know I embarrassed you. I just-.” He pauses. “You’re my little sister and I see you one way, but it’s apparent that others see you differently.” He sighs. “I know Janae is always going to make dumb choices, she’s going to hang out with the wrong people and do what others want her to do. You’ve just always done your own thing.”

  “Well, still, don’t worry. If this headache is any indication of your parties, I’ll take my books.”

  He laughs. “You need some good grease on your stomach. You missed the part last night where everyone went to the Waffle House to soak up the alcohol. Going home and straight to bed is a bad move. You need grease and carbs to help you sober up a little.”

  “I puked on you and Collin last night, didn’t I?”

  He snorts. “Well, pretty much just Atwood. I don’t think he cared though. I actually kinda think he’s into you.”

  I roll my eyes. “Quit screwing with me and find me food.” He just shakes his head, looking back at the road. I’m not in the mood for people to act like Collin wants to be any more than a friend to me.

  A little bit later, I’ve gobbled down an All-Star breakfast and I feel a little better, not ready to beat on the drums, but at least human. I’m starting up the computer at the store when James stops in front of me. “I need to ask you a question.”

  “Okay?”

  “Did you really see Book let Atwood get sacked last night?”

  I look at him confused. “What?”

  “Last night you said something to Atwood about it.”

  I bury my face. What else did I admit last night? Did I say I wanted to get naked with the guy or something? Fuck. “Yes. I saw it. He was slick about it, but the good thing about sitting on the sidelines for so many years is I’ve become an expert at watching player movements. Three out of the four times Collin got sacked last night, Booker was supposed to be blocking for him. Once he did a really shitty fall, that was almost comical, twice you could tell he could’ve taken the lineman down, he just acted like he couldn’t. Watch the videos. I’m sure you’ll see it. If he keeps that shit up-.” I pause. “It’ll be bad. Collin will probably be injured and no state title for the rest of you.”

  I can see him worrying with the possibility of one of his teammates being that big of a dickhead. After the computer is going, I grab my apron. “I’m going to check stock and then work the shelves.”

  He nods but doesn’t say much. I leave him with his thoughts while I spend what I’m pretty sure will be the longest six hours of my life working with a hangover. Later, I see him taking out his phone. He calls the coach and asks if he can swing by for the game films.

  This is one of those moments I don’t envy my brother. He’s got to figure out if a teammate is just lazy or being dirty.

  My phone pings with an incoming text.

  COLLIN: Did you get into a lot of trouble?

  ME: Don’t know yet. I had to work today with James at the store. I’m sure I’ll find out tonight.

  COLLIN: BTW we said someone slipped alcohol into your cup. Your brother’s idea to keep you out of real trouble.

  ME: Thanks. I’m sorry for puking on you.

  COLLIN: LOL It happens. No big deal. Just don’t let it happen again okay? My shoes reek.

  ME: Thanks for taking care of me. I’m really sorry you had to deal with all of that. I’m embarrassed.

  COLLIN: Don’t be Dallas had to bring me home one night. Let’s just say I was naked and I’ll explain later. LOL So don’t be embarrassed.

  I snort out loud reading that part.

  ME: Well thanks. See you @ school.

  COLLIN: Yeah, see you then.

  I shake my head. How could my brother even joke that Collin is into me? I puked on his shoes for crying out loud.

  CHAPTER 15

  Collin-

  Walking through the doors of the school on a Monday morning after a win on Friday night is a natural high. Which kind of counteracts the fact that school itself sucks. For some reason today I kinda can’t wait to see Jo. I hope she didn’t get into too much trouble.

  A cloud comes over my morning, though, when I get to my locker and find Ciara leaning against it. I give her a small smile. “Do you mind moving?”

  “No, I won’t. Not until you tell me what the deal is,” she snaps.

  “What what deal is?” I know what she’s asking but I’m going to make her work for it. I have to figure out some way to make her leave Jo alone. Jo doesn’t deserve her wrath.

  She takes a step forward. “The shit with you and the band geek. Since you are new to Varsity, I’m going to clue you in on something. Your football buddy for the year is also your screw buddy. That’s the way it works in Varsity. That’s me. I. Picked. You.”

  Bitch. “Maybe I didn’t want you. Did you ever think about that?” I know that’s mean but shit, she needs to get a clue.

  “You weren’t pushing me away when this all started. When I was on my knees for you,” she snips.

  “I was just being stupid. I was caught up in the excitement of it all.” I try to calm down and explain.

  “So you decided to go for the fugly band geek?” she snarks.

  I shake my head, I’ve got to get Jo some peace and quiet. “No, I decided that my grades were more important. I didn’t want my business all over school and Jo knows how to keep her mouth shut, unlike everyone else around here. She’s my friend and she’s tutoring me. That’s it, so retract your claws.”

  “She’s got a thing for you.”

  “No, she doesn’t. Jo doesn’t have a thing for anyone. She’s not like that,” I explain, trying to get her away from the ‘let’s make Joelle’s life a nightmare’ plot.

  “So why did you take her to the party the other night?” she questions with her arms crossed, now pushing her tits up.

  “I gave her a ride. Which I do with any of my friends. So get over it, Ciara. She’s nothing, leave it alone.”

  Ciara snorts, covering her mouth. “See, band geek, I told you. You’re nothing and Collin thinks so, just like I said.”

  I turn around to see Joelle with a stunned expression on her face, just as she turns and walks away.

  I spin around and face Ciara. My face is burning hot, I know it’s got to show how pissed off I am. “Get the fuck away from me. Don’t come near me. I’m not your buddy. As a matter of fact, find someone new to sink your claws in. I’m not your ride outta this town, I’m not your friend, I’m not your anything. You are the ugliest fucking person I’ve ever met in my life. I hope you marry a plastic surgeon because when you’re old and your looks are shot, you won’t be shit, because we all already know your heart is black.”

  I storm back out of the hall and to my car. I’m not in the mood
to deal with this shit today and to think half an hour ago I was actually looking forward to it.

  I’ll go drive around, maybe hit the weight room at the field. I’ll call Coach and let him know. Right now is my Ag class anyway. After that maybe I’ll be ready to come back. She fucking enjoyed trying to hurt Jo.

  As I round the corner of the building in my car heading down to the field, I see Jo sitting on a bench typing away on that laptop she drags everywhere.

  Pulling the car over and putting it in park, I notice she never looks up. She just keeps pounding away on that keyboard. She never even notices I’ve gotten out of the car and am about three feet away from her until I say her name. “Jo,” I say softly.

  She looks up and I can see she’s been upset. “Oh, hey.”

  Damn, most girls would stack me with an ugly cussing. Not her, she’s so used to getting kicked she just takes it. “Come with me.”

  She looks up at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Where?”

  “I’m going to the weight room at the field. I need to work through some anger and I want to explain some stuff to you.”

  “Hey, I get it. You don’t have to explain. I knew there was nothing going on between us. It’s everyone else who has all the ideas. Just do me a favor and let me get back to my work.” She sighs. “I’ve got some deadlines to meet.”

  I’m confused. What high school student has deadlines? “Deadlines?”

  She looks up and is almost panicked. “Um. It’s for an online college credit class I’m taking.”

  I can see she’s too scared to budge on her answer. I mean the way I sounded in the hallway, I sounded like the biggest asshole ever. I adjust the cap on my head and shove my hands in my pockets. “Okay. I’m sorry for all of this, Jo. I never meant to step into your life and cause so much havoc.”

  She shrugs, looking back down at her laptop. “It is what it is.”

  I look back at her once before climbing back in my car and spinning away.

  I hate this town. I hate Ciara and people like her. Now, the one person who didn’t want anything from me won’t even look at me.

  Grabbing my phone, I call Coach in his office. “Fagan.”

  “Coach, it’s Atwood.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I need some time. I’m going to hit the weight room at the field. Can you let my teachers know? I’ll make sure I’m in English and Geometry.”

  “What’s going on?” he enquires.

  “Just some personal stuff. I just need some quiet time with a set of weights,” I explain.

  There is a pause. Finally, he answers with a simple, “Okay.” Then there’s a click.

  ~*~*~

  This week has been hell. Jo showed up for tutoring, but you could tell she didn’t want to be there. She had me work out some geometry while she picked apart my final comparison paper. When the bell rang, she simply told me to look over the notes and left. She acts like we can’t even be friends now. I thought I finally had someone who would stand by me no matter what. I guess some things never change.

  Booker has been extra pissy at practice because the coaches crawled his ass about how he played Friday night and now we’re getting ready to do it again tomorrow night.

  Prescott stops me on the way out of the locker room. “Are you going to stay and watch my sister’s practice? I thought I’d stick around,” he shrugs. “See what everyone is talking about.”

  Truth is I wasn’t going to, but deep down I want to. She is a different person on that field. She comes alive, it’s like the music beams through her body. “Yeah, man. I can. I was going to head out, but I can kill an hour.”

  He slaps me on the back. “Great and while we’re sitting up there, you can tell me what has both of you acting like someone just ran over your kitten.”

  Great. Just how I wanted to spend my afternoon. Trying to explain something I don’t even understand to not only my captain, but her brother. As soon as practice is over, I’m hightailing out of here.

  CHAPTER 16

  Joelle-

  Why is my brother here? Why is he watching me? With Collin of all people? Oh well, I’ve got shit to do. Pulling off the t-shirt I have on over my tank top, I rub the bruises on my shoulders. I’ve been spending some extra time whaling on my quints this week. Well, that and spending some sleepless nights writing the next book in my series. Living high school twice takes a lot out of a person, but on the plus side I’m only about ten thousand words from being finished.

  Mr. Clark whistles, bringing us all around. “I know we have an away game this Friday, but we have our first competition on Saturday. It’s the Little Big Horn. Remember, this is our warm up for ABA. So go home after the game, no kanoodling in any corners. The buses will leave the band room at six-thirty Saturday morning with or without you. You do not want it to leave without you because Monday, you will run until I am tired. Also, I do not want a repeat of last year. I will make a boys’ bus and a girls’ bus if you people cannot keep it- classy. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  Great, one preacher’s kid can’t keep it in his pants and we’ll be the ones to get punished.

  “All right, get ready, let’s make today count. Tomorrow night we will not do a post-show. I want you to go home and rest. My present for contest,” he says, giving a small laugh at being a smartass since we never do post-show at an away game. That means we’re going to burn it this afternoon. “Oh, by the way, I’m keeping you an extra thirty minutes today.”

  Almost two hours and several buckets of sweat later, we’re done. I hand my drums to one of the rookies. “Do not scratch those or I will hurt you, Rookie.”

  The kid just nods and carefully takes my set.

  “I’m serious. Don’t scratch my heads,” I bark.

  My brother is standing there when I turn around. “Damn, you were really bitchy about that.” I look around for Collin, but I finally see him getting in his car.

  “No, if I wasn’t they’d be scratched or dented and it would mess me up. Just leave me alone. What are you doing here anyway?” I grab a bottle of water and drink about half before bringing it down.

  “Several of the guys had been talking about your-.” He waves his hands around, lost on what to call it.

  “Show,” I tell him.

  “Yeah, show. I have to say, little sis, you’re pretty badass out there,” he answers with a cocky grin.

  I laugh, adjusting the strap on my tank top and his eyes get huge. “What in the hell is going on with your shoulders?”

  “Oh, bruises from carrying my rack around.” His eyes go nuts and I laugh. “My drums, stupid.”

  “Why do they do that?” he wonders out loud.

  “Because I haven’t had time to grab some stuff from the store and fix them. I have to repair the pads every couple of weeks. No big deal,” I explain, trying to change the subject. “I need to catch Clem for a ride, unless you’re going to give me one.”

  He nods. “Yeah, I’ll give you one. Dad closed the store early. He said it was slow, but I really think it’s because I wasn’t coming in and he wanted to leave for the bar.”

  I can totally believe that. “Do you think we need to go open it back up?”

  “Nah, we can close early one day. How about we go get some food? I’m starving after practice and I know you’ve gotta be,” he offers.

  “Yeah. Anywhere but-.”

  He stops me. “I know, anywhere but the King.”

  I have to laugh a little. I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s acting awfully nice. He must want a really big favor.

  “How about Mexican?” he asks as we get closer to the Mexican place in town.

  I nod. “Sounds good.”

  Once we are seated at the restaurant, he tells me again how awesome our show was.

  I finally stop him. I can only handle so much bull shit. “Look, as you heard, I’m busy all day Saturday so I can’t take your shift at the store.”

  He looks at me confused. “What?”

&n
bsp; I sigh, setting down the chip I’m eating. “This crap about how much you loved my show, how I kicked ass, blah, blah. You’re buttering me up for something. So what is it?”

  He looks almost hurt. “I didn’t want anything. I really did just want you to know how proud I am of you. Atwood made me see some things a little more clearly the other night. I'm really sorry, I never realized how much I don't have your back and how much you do have mine. Speaking of Atwood, what is going on between the two of you? He's been very close-mouthed about it. I asked but he would not even remotely give me a hint.”

  I shake my head, “Nothing, there was just a misunderstanding among other people, not really us.”

  He cocks his eyebrow. “Seriously, that's what you're going with?”

  I’m getting irritated. “I'm not going with anything, I'm simply stating the truth. For some reason everyone in this shit-hole town thought something was going on between us. When it wasn’t, we had to make some things clear to others.”

  “He looked almost sad today during your practice,” he says before shoving a chip in his mouth.

  I sigh. “What’s the problem? You were one of the ones so worried.” I throw my hands up. “Now it’s clear there is nothing to worry about. I was surprised he was there, guess he likes watching. Change the subject.”

  Finally seeing I’m not going to give, he concedes. “Okay, so where is this competition Saturday?”

  “Why? It’s in this little podunk town smaller than ours.”

  “I need to know so I can get the directions to figure out how to get there,” he reasons.

  Now he’s really confusing me. “What? You have to work Saturday.”

  He takes a drink and sets his glass down. “How many times has the entire family stopped what they were doing to support me? I think it’s time they do it for you.”

  “Whatever. I doubt they’ll come but I’ll leave you the address. It’s not a big deal.” I take another bite of salsa. “I’ve been doing all of this on my own for years.”